Signs of little hel­pers of the yel­low-nec­ked mouse, a new floc­king species, have been seen here and there in forests around Fin­nish schools. These little hel­pers look like com­mon preschool children or 1st and 2nd gra­ders. Howe­ver, these detec­ti­ves can be recog­ni­sed from a mag­ni­fying glass in their hand or the joy­ful sound they make when fin­ding a spring­tail or beetle. From time to time, mem­bers of the species can be seen sit­ting on a piece of moss, eating a pac­ked lunch or drin­king juice from a box. The beha­viour of these indi­vi­duals appears to be gui­ded by a trai­ned forest detec­tive instruc­tor. This new species is expec­ted to spread to all parts of Fin­land over the course of this year. 

If you can see little hel­pers that fit this desc­rip­tion wor­king as detec­ti­ves, you have found your way to a forest detec­ti­ves’ day.  The forest detec­ti­ves’ day is orga­ni­sed by 4H in Fin­land to strengt­hen the forest rela­tions­hip of preschool children and 1st and 2nd gra­ders. The nar­ra­tive 2.5‑hour event sup­ports educa­tion and can be held in forests near schools. The progress of the event is gui­ded by an instruc­tor trai­ned by the 4H Fede­ra­tion. 

The goal is to give children the cou­rage to move around in forests, encou­rage them to learn somet­hing new and inc­rease their unders­tan­ding of dif­fe­rent mea­nings of forests.  

“We want to sup­port these pers­pec­ti­ves to lay a solid foun­da­tion for children, on top of which they can build and strengt­hen their forest rela­tions­hip later in life,” says Sampo Juha­joki, Deve­lop­ment Mana­ger at 4H in Fin­land. 

The forest detec­ti­ves’ day was deve­lo­ped and tes­ted in 2022 and 2023. The 4H Fede­ra­tion had already pre­viously held forest detec­ti­ves’ clubs for children, based on which this model of a one-day forest trip has been deve­lo­ped for schools. 

This year, these events have already been held in 38 loca­tions for 48 groups of schoolc­hildren, with some 1,300 children having already par­tici­pa­ted. More events will be held at dif­fe­rent schools later this autumn. 

“Local 4H associa­tions have really awai­ted this event. We have recei­ved nume­rous ques­tions from local associa­tions asking when they can start using this concept.”  

Teac­hers are also exci­ted. The concept of forest detec­ti­ves’ day was demon­stra­ted at the Educa Fair for teac­hers in January. 

“The num­ber of inte­res­ted teac­hers was inc­re­dibly high given that we have a ready-made concept focusing on schools, children and lear­ning. It addres­ses cur­ricula and their cri­te­ria.”  

“By pro­vi­ding a trai­ned instruc­tor for the event, teac­hers can focus on the day, find ins­pi­ra­tion and learn somet­hing new. We can lower the thres­hold to use local forests in teac­hing by pro­vi­ding a pre-defi­ned route, con­tent and a place to have lunch. We have also addres­sed safety.” 

The Fin­nish 4H Fede­ra­tion con­sists of 184 local 4H associa­tions that pro­vide rec­rea­tio­nal acti­vi­ties for children and young people and work with schools. The foundation’s three lea­ding the­mes are forests, han­dic­raft and food.  

“Food is num­ber one in club acti­vi­ties, with food hero clubs being ext­re­mely popu­lar. Howe­ver, the forest theme accounts for more than half of our coo­pe­ra­tion with schools,” Juha­joki says. 

For schools, 4H pro­vi­des various forest pro­ducts for children of dif­fe­rent ages. The forest detec­ti­ves’ day is inten­ded for preschool children and 1st and 2nd gra­ders to help build a forest rela­tions­hip. Children can then con­ti­nue to build their rela­tions­hip with forests piece by piece.  

“We host a forest event for 7th, 8th and 9th gra­ders, during which we especially emp­ha­sise the need to use hundred per cent of wood. We also talk about cli­mate impact, tree growth, wood-based pro­ducts, as well as the study and job oppor­tu­ni­ties in the use of Fin­nish forests.” 

Juha­joki says that jobs in the forest sec­tor are part of the 4H path towards buil­ding a forest rela­tions­hip. 

“Various jobs offe­red by the forest sec­tor are a sig­ni­ficant part of this path, inclu­ding all the broad impact the use of Fin­nish forests has on us, whet­her we are tal­king about per­so­nal well­being or the wel­fare of eve­ry­one in Fin­land.” 

How to join?  

If you are a teac­her and inte­res­ted in the forest detec­ti­ves’ day or other coo­pe­ra­tion with schools, con­tact your local 4H associa­tion. Con­tact details of local associa­tions are avai­lable at www.4h.fi.